Can-opener.



PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.

J. F. RUFF.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1907.

right from which roject two JOSEPH F. RUFF, OF NEWBERRY, FLORIDA.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification 01' Letters Patent. I

Patented June 23, 1908.

Application filed May 29, 1907. Serial No. 376,431.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn F. RUFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newberry, in the county of Alachua and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the fol owing is a specification.

This invention relates to can openers, and its primary object is, to provide a device of the character indicated, of simple and inexpensive construction adapted to be operated the downward movement of alever to form radial slits in the top or cover of a can.

A further object of the invention is, to provide. means whereby the slitted portions of the can cover will be raised when the cutter or slitting tool is elevated by the upward movement of the operating lever.

The construction of the improvement will be fully described hereinafter, in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification.

n the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can opener embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a'horizontal section on the line indicated in Fig. 1, looking downward. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cutter-head employed, and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the cutter-head.

The reference numeral 5 designates an uparallel horizontal arms 6, sai arms being ocated adjacent to the lower end of the upright 5. A clamping screw 7 extends through the lower arm 6 to facilitate the attachment of the device to a table or other suitable su port. An arm 8 projects from the upper en of the upright 5, and a similar arm 8 rojects from the u right at a point below. t e upper arm 8.

ach of these arms 8 is provided at its free end with a sleeve 9, said sleeves being in vertical alinement, and serving as guides for 'a plunger-rod 10, to which is pivotally secured a bifurcated lever 11. The ends of the forked arms'ofthe lever 11 are formed with elongated slots 11 through which "extend oppositely-disposed screws 12, said screws entering opposite sides of the upright 5. The lower end of the plunger rod 10 is formed with said sleeves, a bifurcated lever a socket 17 to receive a spindle 13 projecting centrall from a cutter-head comprising a series 0 equidistant radial cutting blades 15. A set screw 12 is employed to secure the spindle within the socket 17. From each of t e blades 15 projects a flange 16' the function of said flanges being to engage the points of the several portions of the cover and raise the same when the cutter head is withdrawn.

The utility and operation of the improvement will be readily understood. The cutterhead is centered on the can cover, after which the lever 11 is de ressed forcing the cutting blades through t e cover and forming radial slits therein. The upward movement of the lever withdraws the cutter-head, and as above stated the points of the slitted portions of the cover are raised by the contact therewith of the flanges 16 projecting from the cutting blades.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. A can-opener comprising an upright, parallel arms projecting therefrom, and pro vided with verticall alined sleeves, a

lunger-rod guided wit in said sleeves, a biurcated lever pivotally secured to said plunger-rod, and loosely secured to said-u ri ht, and a cutter-head consisting of mi ial y-disposed blades, secured to the lower end of said plunger-rod.

2. A can-opener comprising an upright provided with means for securing it to a support, and with parallel arms provided with alined sleeves, a plunger-rod guided within ivotally secured to said plunger-rod, and loosely attached to said upright, and a cutter-head secured to the lower end of said plunger-rod, and consisting of a series of radially disposed blades, each provided with a projecting flange adjacent to its lower end.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOS. F. RUFF.

Witnesses:

JOHN G. WHITE, S. P. GETZEN. 

